Courtesy of the Friends of the Epsom Public Library, the library offers free passes to the American Independence Museum in Exeter, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, the Millyard Museum in Manchester, the SEE Science Center in Manchester, and the Strawberry Banks Museum in Portsmouth.

We begin this month’s movies on February 7 with Victoria and Abdul, the extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. “When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.” (Rotten Tomatoes)

On February 14 we will show The MountainBetween Us, starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba. Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.

The Glass Castle, to be shown on February 21, tells the story of the Walls family and their nomadic life away from mainstream society. Poverty stricken, the Walls family avoid city living, opting for the simple life in abandoned homes and unpopulated areas. While Rex (Woody Harrelson) tries to get his family to take to the alternative lifestyle, he must deal with the challenges they face, as well as the fact that not everyone in the family is happy with their situation — particularly his daughter Jeannette (Brie Larson), who is set on city living. The movie is based on true events and on the memoir of the same name by Jeannette Walls. Woody Harrelson has received high praise for his performance.

Abundant Acreage Available will be presented on February 28. One night soon after siblings Jesse (Terry Kinney) and Tracy (Amy Ryan) bury their father’s remains on their North Carolina tobacco farm, Tracy finds three old men camped out on the edges of their property. After 50 years away, these brothers have returned to see about buying back the land their family farmed for generations.

Looking ahead to March 7, the library will present a movie that hits closer to home. Stronger is the story of Jeff Bauman, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Inspired by the true story of the Boston Bombing, Bauman, a working-class Bostonian, was at the 2013 marathon when the bomb blast occurred, and he tragically lost both of his legs. After regaining consciousness, Jeff was able to help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his own battle had just begun. His deeply personal journey tests a family’s bond and defines a community’s pride as he overcomes adversity to become the living embodiment of “Boston Strong.”

The movie is rated R for violence, language, and depictions of extreme trauma.

The Book Discussion Group will meet on Wednesday, February 21, at 7;00 p.m. to discuss the timely book On Tyranny.

The author, Timothy Snyder writes that “The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat they knew, the tyranny that overcame ancient democracy. Today, our political order faces new threats, not unlike the totalitarianism of the Twentieth Century. We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.”

Anyone wishing to join in the discussion is invited to stop by the library to obtain a copy of the book.

Teen Exercise Program: Monday, February 26 and Wednesday the 28th at 6 p.m. Join us for the fun. Wear comfortable clothes, and bring a water bottle. We will have sandwich wraps Monday night for supper, and tacos/burritos Wednesday night. Drinks and snacks included. Please sign up at the library or contact Mrs. Benner.

Are you thinking about your 2017 Income Taxes? Need help with your return?

The library will be hosting the VITA/TCE Taxaide Program to assist you with your tax preparation and submission. The program is jointly sponsored by the IRS and the AARP Foundation. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) focuses on individuals and working families; TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) focuses on seniors with the majority of TCE programs sponsored by the AARP Foundation TaxAide program.

Any taxpayer whose return is within the program scope is welcome. Although this is a free service, you will need to make an appointment by going on line to aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or calling 1-888-227-7669 or 211. This is a volunteer program. The tax preparers are certified annually by the IRS in ethics and federal tax law.

Deerfield artist Emily Moore’s work will be on display at the library from January 20 through March 3.

The artist promises “Color! This show is colorful! Flowers. Gardens. . . and a whole set of quietly intense abstract pastels not yet shown anywhere.

In 2016 when she spent a month in Athens, Greece, Emily became involved with working for the cause of refugees. As a result, as an artist – a painter working mostly in oils – she has made four of her paintings available as note cards, with 2/3 of the sale price going to refugees worldwide. Each pack of four cards sells for $15, with $10 going to the International Rescue Committee. These cards will be available for sale at the exhibit. In addition, the IRC will receive 20% of the sales of paintings and framed prints in the exhibit.